Energy-transformer for rolling-stock.



J. D. FAILYER.

ENERGY TRANSFORMER FoR ROLLING STOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-26,1916.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET lnv e TIT: 1-

His REluvne s J. D. FAILYER.

ENERGY TRANSFORMER FOR ROLLING STOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a. 1916.

1 ,284:, 186.. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7% WEE/21mm J. D. FAILYER.

ENERGY TRANSFORMER FOR ROLLING STOCK.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 26, 19I6.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 UNITED STA'lES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. FAILYER, 0F SEYMOUR, MISSOURI.

ENERGY TRANSFORMER FOR ROLLING-STOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. FAILYER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Seymour, in the county of Webster and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Energy- Transformer for Rolling- Stock,of which the following is a specificai use in lighting, heating or asthe motor power for refrigerating plant, etc., on rolling stock; second,to provide such 'mechanism as may be applied to existing cars withoutaltering the trucks or under rigging of the car; third, to provide suchmechanism as may be quickly and effectively moved into or out ofoperative relation to the rails; fourth, to insure proper traction ofthe power transmitting wheels during inclement weather; fifth, to guardagainst overloading any of the mechanism due to shock, as Whencouplingor switching the cars; sixth, to embody in the mechanism .an electricgenerator including parts having predetermined direction of rotation for.practical operation and means for rotating said parts in saiddirection, regardless as to the movement of the car; that is, forward orbackward; and, seventh, to provide means for automatically controllingthe voltage of the current generated so as to maintain a substantiallyuniform voltage, regardless of the speed of the car.

Further objects of my invention are to embody in said mechanism acircuit for the electric current, including a storage battery, a load,such as electric lamps for lighting the car, and means for switchingsaid current to the battery or load. and to provide means forautomatically switching the load in circuit with such batteries, whenthe generator is inactive.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Specification of Letters Patent.

the relative position of mechanism con- Patented Nov. 5, 1918.Application filed February 26, 1916. Serial No. 80,633.

structed according to my invention, with respect to one of the trucks ofthe car.

F 1g. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through thelower-portion. of a car anddisclosing the mechanism constructedaccordlng to my invention, with the casing removed.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view in elevation of a clutch means forming a partof my inventlon.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the lines 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing electrical circuits.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view partly in plan and partly in sectiondisclosing a detail of circuit control means. j

In the drawings, where similarcharacters refer to similar partsthroughoutthe several. views, A designates generally rolling stock,- ora car having the usual supporting wheels B to run on rails C; D a guideframe secured to or supported by and beneath car A in any practlcalmanner; E a

frame guided by frame D and movable toward or from the floor of car A; Ftraction wheels carried by frame E, which are rotated by engagement withthe rails C; G an electric generator, carried by frame E, embodying awork shaft H; I means for transmitting circumferential movement ofwheels F to work shaft H; J pneumatic means for raising the frame E, orforcing it downward; K mechanical means for raising or lowering frame E;L mechanism for regulating the strength of the electric currentgenerated by G, and operable by means I; M a storage battery; N a load,such as an electric lamp for lighting the car; and. O mechanism forswitching said generator into circuit with the load. N only when thewheels F are r0tating and switching the storage battery M in circuitwith load N,

when the wheels F are idle.

It has already been proposed to operate a generator by power derivedfrom the axle of support-ing wheelsof a car. In a practical applicationof my invention, no alteration of the existing trucks or under riggingof the car is necessar the mechanism being applied to the un er portionof the car, preferably in close proxlmity to one of the trucks, asclearly shown in'Fig. 2. In this way, all danger of weakening the caraxle, or complicating the truck structure is avoided and the inventionmay be applied to existing rolling stock with a saving in time, laborand ex ense. The main guide frame I) may be ma e up of rolled sections,preferably of channel shape, and consist of upper member 10, uprights11, and lower cross member 12 'oined in any suitable manner. Each u rigt is provided with a guide slot 13 exten ing to the lower portion of themember but closed after assemblage by means of cross member 12. Member10 may be secured to the longitudinal members 14 of the car as bybrackets 15 and bolts 16. The frame E may consist of I beams 17 movablevertically in frame D, and bearings 18, of any suitable type, eachbearing having a depending bracket 19 to which the beams 17 are secured.It is to be observed that there'is a bearing 18 at each upright 11 offrame D and is slidable in slot 13, and may be provided with guideflanges 20 embracing the main body portion of such upright.

lVhen a car rounds a curve its longitudinal axis is thrown out ofvertical alinement with the axis of the track, and for this reason Iprefer to rovide flangeless traction wheels F relative y wider at thetread portion than the supporting wheels B of the car. By thisconstruction they remain in operative relation to the rails regardlessas to whether the car is moving on a straight section of track orrounding a curve. I 'iiese wheels are supported from frame E by shaft 21extending through bearings 18, this shaft forming a part of t e means Ifor transmitting circumferential movement of the wheels to work shaft Hof generator G. The generator is also supported from frame E, as by Ushaped supports 22 secured to and resting upon beam 17 and engaging theunder side of platform 23 upon which generator G is mounted. In additionto including shaft 21, means I may comprise a pair of comeshing gears 24and 25, the former being free on shaft 21 and embodying clutch mechanism26, more specifically shown in Figs. 6 and 7, while gear 25 is rigidwith work shaft H; and a train of three gears 27 28 and 29, the first ofwhich is similar to gear 24, while gear 29 is rigid with work shaft H.The intermediate gear 28 is supported by shaft 30'rigid with platform23, as by support 31. Work shaft H having a predetermined direction ofrotation, the function of clutch means 26 in each wheel 24 and 27, is toadapt means I so that it will transmit movement to shaft H in a uniformdirection, regardless as to the direction of rotation of wheels F.Wheels 24 and 27 being free on shaft 21, a collar 32 may be providedadjacent each of these gears to prevent longitudinal movement thereof inone direction on shaft 21, and a hub 33, keyed to shaft 21 preventsmovement in the other direction. This hub 33 has a plurality of fingers34 pivoted thereto, as at 35 and disposed at an acute angle to theradius. These fingers are also pivoted to a ring 36, as at 37, such as arivet, which passes through an elongated opening 38 in each finger.These fingers are adapted to engage an annular flange 39 rigid with thegears and con-' centric thereto. The operation of the clutches is asfollows,-assuming that the direction of rotation of shaft 21 is asindicated by arrow Fig. 6, the hub 33 being rigid with the shaft has atendency to swing fingers 34 about pivot point 37. This draws thefingers toward the radius of hub 33, whereupon they engage the internalperiphery of flange 39, causing the gears to move with shaft 21. If theshaft is moved in a counter direction, the action is to withdraw thefingers from engagement with flange 39, and in assembling gears 24 and27 into operative relation to shaft 21 the clutch means 36 is soarranged in operative relation to gear 27 that while the clutch means ofgear 24 is active for transmitting movement of shaft 21 to the gear, theclutch means of gear 27 is inactive, and vice versa. 100 From the.foregoing it is to be observed that the work shaft H is not subjected toshocks due to a change in direction of movement of the car since thefingers 34 do not act quickly but have a tendency to gradually 105assume a gripping position in operative relation to the gears.

. IVhen it is desired to render the wheels F inactive, frame E may beraised toward the floor of the car, whereupon said wheels are 110 drawnout of frictional engagement with the rails C. To accomplish this I mayprovide a pneumatic means J comprising cylinders 40 secured to theuprights 11 in any suitable manner; a piston 41 in each cylinder 40 op-115 eratively connected with hearing 18, as by piston rod 42 and yoke43; pipes 44 and 45 leading to the upper and lower portion,respectively, of cylinder 40; regulating valves 46 and 47 in pipes 44ar. 45, respectively; 120 a three-way valve "8 with which pipes 44 and45 have connections, said vali e 48 having an exhaust opening 49; and, apipe 50 1n communication with valve 48 and having connection with asource of fluid pres- 125 sure, not shown in the drawings. The operaticnof this pneumatic means is as follows:

Assuming that it is desired to force the wheels F into operativerelation to the rails C, three way valve 48 is operated to open 180 pipe45 to the atmosphere and introduce fluid pressure through pipe 44 to theupper portion of cylinder 40. Valves 46 and 47 are adjusted so that thedesired pressure may be obtained regardless as to the amount of pressurein pipe 50. If it is desired to not impose pressure upon the wheels Fthrough means J, the valve 48 is operated so that both pipes 44 and 45are opened to the atmosphere. When it is desired to raise the wheels, ashereinbefore described, the valve 48 is operated to open pipe 44 totheatmosphere and introduce fluid pressure under piston 41 through pipe45.

It may also be desirable to provide mechanical means for raising orlowering the frame E, and in connection with means K, it may comprise ashaft 51 supported by uprights 11 and extending longitudinally of shaft21; a hand wheel 52 for rotating shaft 51; a pawl 53 and ratchet wheel54 to counteract rotation of shaft 51 in one direction; and, flexiblemeans, such as cable 55 having one end secured to shaft 51 and the otherto bearings 18, as at ring 56. By this means, upon rotating wheel 52 thecables 55 are wound about shaft 51, and the frame E may be maintained ina raised position, pawl 53 acting upon ratchet wheel 54. If it isdesired to lower the frame E, pawl 53 is dis placed and shaft 51permitted to turn, as is obvious from an inspection of the drawing. Itis to :be observed that the means K in no way affect the means J, if thecables 55 are slack, however, if it is desired to lock the frame E in araised position, so that operation of valve 48 will have no effectthereupon, the pawl 53 and ratchet wheel 54 serves such a purpose.

In consideration of the fact that the speed of rolling stock varies,mechanism L is provided to regulate the strength of the electric currentgenerated by generator G, and may comprise a rheostat 57 mounted onplatform 23; a suitable centrifugal governor 58 operable by means I, asby being mounted on work shaft H; and means 59 for transmittifigmovement of the governor through the arm 60 of'rheostat 57. This means59 preferably comprises an oscillatable link 61 connected With themovable part 62 of governor 58, as by yoke 63, said links being pivotedintermediate its end as by lever 64; a reciprocable member 65 supportedby bearings 66 and having connection with member 61 as by pin and slotarrangement 67 and a pin 68 connecting the arm 60 with perforatedsegment 69 of member 65. It is to be observed that, as work shaft Hspeeds up the free member 62 of governor 58 is drawn away from electricgenerator G. This action swings member 61 about a pivotal connectionwith lever 64 and forces member 65 in a direction changing the relativeposition of lever 60 with the contacts of the rheostat.

The perforations in segment 69 are provided so that by removing pin 68 arelative position of lever 60 with respect to member 65 may be changedto adapt the mechanism to the particular requirements of the rollingstock. In other words, more resistance is thrown in as the shaft Hspeeds up, and by which a substantially uniform voltage is supplied atthe outlet terminal of the rheostat.

Referring now to the circuit of generator G, the storage battery M isprovided to provide a source of electrical energy when the car is notmoving. While I have shown the load N as being electric lamps forlighting the car, I do not wish myself limited to the particularapplication of the invention to a lighting system. When the generator Gis operating, it may supply current for either the load N or forcharging storage battery M, but mechanism 0 is provided so that thegenerator G will be in circuit only when wheels F are rotating. Thismechanism 0 may comprise a governor 70 mounted on shaft H; a two wayswitch 71, supported from platform 23 and levers 72 and 73 for movingthe oscillatable switch members 74 from one set of points 75 to theother set designated by character 76. One pole of generator G is inconducting communication with the arm contact 77 of rheostat 57, as bywir 78, while the other pole of the generator is in conductingcommunication with one of the points 75 as by wire 79. The resistance ofrheostat 57 is in conducting communication with the other point 75, asby wire 80. Points 76 are in connecting communication with storagebattery M, as by wires 81 and 82. I may find it desirable to I provide asecond two way switch 83, the leads which are in connectingcommunication with the leads of switch 71 as by wires 84. When this twoway'switch- 83 is interposed between switch 71 and the load N, one pairof its points 85 are connected with the load, while the other set 86 arein conducting communication with the wires 81 and 82 leading to theterminals of battery M.

As clearly shown in diagram Fig. 8, the load N is supplied by battery Mwhen the wheels F are inactive. However, should the mechanism J or K beoperated to lower the frame E,whereupon the wheels F 0011- obvious froman inspection of the drawing.

If the wheels F are moved out of engagement with the rails, or the carceases to move mechanism 0 will at once operate to switch the load incircuit with the battery.

It may be desirable to insure proper traction of wheels as with rails Cby the provision of a spring 90 above each bearing 18, this springencircling a guide rod 91 passing through bearings 92 rigid with upright 11 the spring being interposed between one of these brackets andabutment 93, such as a Washer resting upon nut 94 having crew threadedengagement with rod 91. This rod is secured to the bearing 18 in anysuitable manner and has a tendency to not only hold the frame E inplace, but also to press the wheels F firmly in contact with the rails.The operation of the energy transformer is as follows:

Assuming that thecar is in motion and it is desired to bring the wheelsF into opera" tive relation to the rails C, the three ways valve 48 isoperated to provide for slow release of the air from beneath piston 41through pipe 45, and fluid pressure is brought upon the piston, forcingthe frame E downwardly at both sides of frame D. The engagement of thewheels with the rails prevent the piston from coming in contact with thelower portion of cylinder 40, while the springs 90 prevent engagement ofthe piston with the upper portions of the cylinder. If efficienttractlon is obtained, due to the weight of the mass com'ing upon thewheels F, in addition to the expansion of springs 90, fluid pressureneed not be main tained above piston 41 although it is to be appreciatedthat, by regulating valves 46 any desired pressure may be obtainedaccording to the load. Transmission means will impart movement to theshaft H of generator G and when such shaft is rotating sufficiently tooperate means 0 the current generated may be utilized on the rollingstock. If means J is operated to raise frame E, while the car is movingat a high rate of speed, wheels F continue to rotate due to the momentumthey have obtained, and no shock is thrown upon the generator G. WheelsF come to rest slowly, andthe clutch mechanisms 26 are in readiness torotate shaft H in a uniform direction, regardless as to the movement ofthe car, either forward or reverse.

' Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention; but

I claim:

1. An energy trans former for rolling stock comprising in combination,an electric generator, a traction wheel, and means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel in either direction to the shaftof said generator in a uniform direction.

2. An energy transformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, anelectric generator, a flangeless wheel, pneumatic mechanism for bodilyraising or lowering said wheel, and means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel to said generator.

3. An energy transformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, anelectric generator, a traction wheel, mechanism for bodily raising orlowering said wheel, and means for transmitting circumferential movementof said wheel in either direction to the shaft of said generator in auniform direction.-

4. An energy transformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, anelectric generator, a traction wheel, means normally forcing said wheeldownwardly, and means for transmitting circumferential movement fromsaid wheels in either direction to the shaft of said generator in auniform direction.

5. An energy transformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, anelectric generator, a fiangeless traction wheel, means normally forcingsaid wheel downwardly, mechanism to raise said wheel against action ofsaid means, and means for transmitting circumferential movement of saidwheel in either direction to said generator in a uniform direction.

6. An energy transformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, anelectric generator, a traction wheel, pneumatic means for bodily raisingor forcing said wheel downwardly, and means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel to said generator. 7 7. An energytransformer for rolling stock comprising in combination, an electricgenerator, a traction wheel, mechanical means for raising or loweringsaid wheel and retaining it in an adjusted position, and means fortransmitting circumferential movement of said wheel to said generator.

8. In an energy transformer, the combination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting traction wheels, of a supplemental wheel,an electric generator, and means for transmitting circumferentialmovement of said wheel in either direction to the shaft of saidgenerator in a uniform direction.

9. In an energy transformer, the combination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting wheels, of a supplemental wheel, anelectric generator, mechanism for bodily raising or lowering said wheel,and means for transmitting circumferential movement of said wheel tosaid generator.

10. In an energy transformer, the combination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting wheels, of a supplemental wheel, anelectric generator, mechanism for bodily raising or lowering said wheel,and means for transmitting circumferential movement of said wheel ineither direction to the shaft of said generator in a uniform direction.

11. In an energy transformer, the combination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting wheels. of a supplemental traction wheel,an electric generator, means normally forcing said wheel downwardly, andmeans for transmitting circumferential movement of said wheel in eitherdirection to said generator in a uniform direction.

12. In an energy transformer, the com bination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting wheels, of a supplemental wheel, anelectric generator, means normally forcing said wheel downwardly,mechanism to raise said wheel against action of said means, and meansfor transmitting circumferential movement of said wheel to saidgenerator.

13. In an energy transformer, the combination with rolling stockincluding the usual supporting wheels, of a supplemental wheel, anelectric generator, pneumatic means for bodily raising or forcing saidWheel downwardly, and means for transmitting circumferential movement ofsaid wheel to said generator.

H. In an energy transformer the combination with rolling stock includingthe usual supporting wheels, of a supplemental wheel, an electricgenerator, mechanical means for raising or lowering said wheel andretaining it in an adjusted position, and means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel to said generator.

15. In an energy transformer for rolling stock comprising incombination, a traction wheel, a work shaft, a transmission shaftrotatable with said traction wheel, motion transmitting meansoperatively connecting said shafts for rotating said work shaft fromsaid transmission shaft in a uniform direction, but releasable uponmovement of said transmission shaft in a counter direction, and secondmotion transmitting means operably connected with said shafts forrotating said work shaft in a direction counter to that of movement ofsaid transmission shaft, but releasable upon effective operation of saidfirst mentioned motion transmitting means.

16. In an energy transformer for rolling stock comprising incombination, a traction wheel, a work shaft, a transmission shaftrotatable with said traction wheel, a pair of co-meshing gears, one oneach of said shafts, and one gear embodying a clutch whereby the gearsare rendered active as motion transmitting means only when saidtransmission shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction, and a trainof three gears, the extreme two of which are carried by said shafts. oneof said gears embodying a clutch whereby the gears are rendered aethe asmotion transmitting means only when said transmission shaft is rotatingin a direction counter to that first mentioned.

17. In an energy transformer for rolling stock, the combination with acar, having the usual supporting wheels, of a supporting frame capableof movement toward or from the floor of the car, a work shaft, supportedby said frame, a traction wheel carried by said frame for engagementwith rails on which the ear moves, means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel to said shaft, and means formoving said frame toward or from the floor of the car, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

18. In an energy transformer, the combination with a car having theusual supporting wheels, of a supporting frame capable of movementtoward or from the floor of the car, a work shaft supported by saidframe, a traction wheel carried by said frame for engagement with railson which the car moves, means for transmitting circumferential movementof said wheel to said shaft, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinderoperatively connected with said frame to raise or lower the same by recirocation, and means for introducing uid pressure at either side of saidpiston within said cylinder.

19. In an energy transformer, the combination with a car having theusual supporting wheels, of a supporting frame carried by said car,capable of movement toward or from the floor thereof, a work shaftsupported by said frame, a traction Wheel carried by said frame forengagement with the rails on which the car moves, means for transmittingcircumferential movement of said wheel to said shaft, a second shaftcarried by the frame, means to restrain movement of said shaft in onedirection, and flexible means connecting said shaft and frame,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN D. FAILYER.

